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Keith Olbermann move highlights MSNBC's identity crisis

MSNBC suspended Keith Olbermann after POLITICO reported that he made campaign contributions. |
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Complicating the picture is the fact that Fox News’ hosts have been able to make political donations without problems. Sean Hannity and Mike Huckabee, each the host of his own show on Fox, have given a combined $20,500 to GOP candidates and causes this year, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Hannity gave maximum donations to Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann’s political action committee and John Gomez’s unsuccessful campaign for a New York congressional seat, while Huckabee, who also maintains a political action committee that donates to candidates, wrote $10,700 in personal checks to state and federal Republican politicians.

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An investigative report into journalists’ political giving by msnbc.com in 2007 found that Fox News was unusual “in placing no restrictions on campaign contributions.”

In response to questions about Hannity’s donation to Bachmann, Bill Shine, the senior vice president of programming at Fox News, told a Minnesota newspaper that there is no company policy against talk show personalities giving to candidates, but said Hannity would disclose the donation when Bachmann appears on his show.

"It's always good to remember that he's not a journalist, he's a conservative TV host," Shine said told the paper. "If he wants to donate to a candidate, he certainly can."

Salon’s Justin Elliot reported that that disclosure didn’t happen, but argued that Fox’s policy seems to be the right one for the cable news age today.

Olbermann’s fate remains unclear. An NBC source told The New York Times’ Brian Stelter that the suspension would not likely lead to Olbermann’s firing. Meanwhile, fans barraged the MSNBC offices with calls to reinstate him, while the Progressive Change Campaign Committee circulated a petition calling for his return.

Olbermann’s fill-in Friday night, Thomas Roberts, said:

"As we promised at the top of the show, a quick word now about Keith. Last night, MSNBC management became aware of three political contributions that Keith made to three different candidates last week. The contributions are not permitted by NBC News without prior approval. In light of those facts Keith has been suspended indefinitely. And we know all of you are looking forward to Keith’s return. And so are we," he said.

"I understand this rule. I understand what it means to break this rule. I believe everybody should face the same treatment under this rule. I also personally believe that the point has been made and we should have Keith back hosting Countdown," added Maddow on her show.

Meanwhile, CNN, which bars its fulltime journalists from political giving, has been reveling in its often-maligned brand of nonpartisanship.

“It’s a ridiculously false line that’s being drawn in the sand,” former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer said, arguing that both Olbermann and MSNBC were liberal and should embrace that identity.

His co-host, conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, countered that Olbermann broke the rules, but added: “The moral of this story is that journalism has changed. A lot.”

Olberman,Matthews, and Madcow, will be replaced, or Glen Beck will have a larger audience share than any of the three.This is just an excuse to replace Olberman, the first to go. I had opined that Matthews would be the first to go, due to his senility and tendency to slobber when he gets excited.

For two years the Democrats have run Washington but NBC has primarily featured Republicans in their non MSNBC news shows. NBC was the cheer leader for the GOP in the last election. CNBC is little more than a 24 hour propoganda show for Corporate America.

It is no wonder that they are leaning against anyone who opposes the political interests of the General Electric Corporation.

sinatra, yer nuts. anyway, you libs need to figer out that you hold no scruples. toward anybody or anything. the lib media is a joke. its like california electing jerry brown governor. like he is going to bring that state around. hahahahahaha.

This guy was a joke, as is MSNBC and I couldn't be happier that he got the boot. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy. However, most of MSNBC is of the same cloth. I personally think Oberman should be able to give donations to whomever he wants to, it's his money. What I don't get is MSNBC's attitude when everyone on there is a 24/7 biased, Nobama boot licker. They are all filled with hate and jealousy (of Fox especially) and do nothing but bash conservatives and what has it gotten them? THE LOWEST RATINGS and a reputation as a joke. Maddox, Matthews, Schultz - they are all BOOT LICKERS and disgraceful commentators and I would bet my life that they have given donations to dems so there is something more going on here. MSNBC can't be so stupid to think Oberman is their problem.

Of course he was railroaded. I'm fairly certain management has for some time been quietly seeking a way to not only get him off the air, but out of his overpriced contract.

I'm sure that when the dust settles, Herr Olbermann will find that his suspension (and subsequent dismissal) has been handled within the legal boundaries of his contract.

MSNBC is a business, and as such can hemorrhage for only so long before the ER nurse notices the blood pooling around the chair in the waiting area. MSNBC must make some changes or they risk following Air America into oblivion.